$15.00
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, over 33 million American workers applied for unemployment insurance. “Essential workers” such as healthcare providers, government officials, and Walmart cashiers continued working during the pandemic but for tens of millions of Americans, this was not the case. Small businesses were forced to close, oftentimes permanently, and those businesses that could not quickly move online fell out of the market. Even now, millions of Americans are still trying to get back on their feet. Restaurants, entertainment services, and bars could no longer afford to pay or hire employees, leading to devastation, depression, and complete loss of livelihood. While corporations such as Target and Walmart stayed open, mom and pop shops were defeated. Even in times of crisis, the government does not have the right to prevent people from feeding their families and making a living.